Pomegranate

A Novel

By: Helen Elaine Lee

Narrated by: Machelle Williams, Janina Edwards

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION

A “deep and beautiful” (Jaqueline Woodson, New York Times bestselling author) novel about a queer Black woman’s fight for recovery, freedom, and redemption after incarceration—an unforgettable story of addiction, motherhood, and self-reinvention.

Ranita Atwater is “getting short.”

She is almost done with her four-year sentence for opiate possession at Oak Hills Correctional Center. Three years sober, she is determined to stay clean and regain custody of her two children. Ranita is regaining her freedom, but she’s leaving behind her lover Maxine, who has inspired her to imagine herself and the world differently.

My name is Ranita, and I’m an addict, she has said again and again at recovery meetings. But who else is she? Who might she choose to become? Now she must steer clear of the temptations that have pulled her down, while atoning for her missteps and facing old wounds. With a fierce, smart, and sometimes funny voice, Ranita reveals how rocky and winding the path to wellness is for a Black woman, even as she draws on family, memory, faith, and love in order to choose life.

Pomegranate is a complex portrayal of queer Black womanhood and marginalization in America from an author “working at the height of her powers” (Tayari Jones, New York Times bestselling). In lyrical and precise prose, Helen Elaine Lee paints a humane and unflinching portrait of the devastating effects of incarceration and addiction, and of one woman’s determination to tell her story.

Critic reviews

"Casting two distinct voices brilliantly underscores Ranita's rebirth; Williams and Edwards masterfully relay then and now." (Booklist)

"Both narrators capture Ranita's fear and sarcasm, along with the softer side she frequently keeps hidden. Listeners will find themselves invested in Ranita's determination to forge a new life." (AudioFile Magazine)

Powerful, Human, and Moving

I pre-ordered this book because the description just spoke to me. I am so glad I did! This is an incredibly powerful story about a woman who is newly released from prison. The book chronicles her struggles adapting to life outside, trying to reunite with her children, and dealing with her past. The two narrators tell the story perfectly, with one speaking as present Ranita and one as past Ranita. I was sad when the book ended, because Ranita’s story was so beautifully told. Thank you so much for this wonderful book!

Best book I have read in a long time

Thank you for this book. The depth of characters, the art of the story, the relatable issues. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Lyrical, poetic

This was some of the best writing I’ve ever experienced and the narrators did a great job with it! Ranita’s story is going to stick with me for a long time to come!

Moving

This book was amazing! There are are some laughs, tears, and a lot of truth.

Filled my heart and head

This beautiful story was so well written and performed that I will need a breather before I move on to another. I highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed.